Holder for gaseous discharge lamps



March 15, 1949. KULKA 2,464,643

HOLDER FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE LAMPS Filed April 5, 1945 2 Sheqts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. t Eugene R If A TTORN E Y5 March 15, 1949. E. R. KULKA 2,464,643

HOLDER FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE LAMPS INVENTOR. R 1* Eugene )5.

BY 7710 /(r \{QTTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER FOR GASEOUS DISCHARGE LAMPS Eugene R. Kulka, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application April 5, 1945, Serial No. 586,647

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to new and improved holder-socket means for holding fiuorescent" lamps and other gaseous discharge lamps, and for connecting said lamps to an alternating current power circuit.

The invention relates particularly to holdersocket means for a gaseous discharge lamp which is operated at high voltage, such as 600 volts- 1,000 volts or more. The accidental touching of such a high-voltage contact results in serious injury or death.

A lamp of this type has a single external metal contact head or prong, at each end thereof. Such lamps do not require starters. I provide a. primary holder-socket and a secondary holder-socket for each lamp. The high and dangerous voltage is applied to the terminal of the secondary holdersocket. This high voltage is secured for example, from the secondary section of a step-up autotransformer. This high-voltage secondary circuit remains open, until a lamp is inserted into the two holder-sockets, whereby the secondary circuit is closed through the lamp itself. When the lamp is inserted, it covers and obstructs the high-voltage centact, thus preventing accidents.

Numerous additional objects and advantages of my invention will be stated in the annexed description and drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a side-elevation, partially in vertical section, which shows a lamp held operatively in a secondary holder and a primary holder. In this view, the front section of each holder 1 and' H has been omitted.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the secondary holder, showing the two halves of the secondary holder detached from each other.

. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the secondary holder, taken at the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1, looking from below.

The primary holder 1 and the secondary holder I! have casings which are made of suitable insulatin material.

The casings of these holders 1 and I! are structurally the same, so that it is necessary only to describe the construction of the casing of the secondary holder 11.

Said casings of secondary holder ll comprises equal halves or sections "a and 11b. which are which has a respective vertical, tapped hole 48. These sections are transverse sections, instead of being longitudinallyalined. This greatly lowers the cost of manufacture;

The outer convex walls of said transverse sections I10 and 11b have respective transverse median recesses 42 and 42a. Said recesses 42 and 42a are alined with respective transverse bores. The inner vertical, planar walls of said sections and llb are held in abutting relation by a transverse clamping bolt whose shank 25 is located in said bores. Said bolt has a slotted head lla, which is located in recess 42a of section Ilb. The bolt has a clamping nut 45, which is located in recess 42 of rear section He. Said rear recess 42 is of hexagonal cross-section, so that nut 45 is non-turnable in the rear recess 42.

A metal contact or thimble 4| is embedded in the material of the rear section He. The interior wall of thimble 4| is tapped. The threaded metal shank of a metal contact member 16 can be screwed into and out of thimble "4|.

The bottom walls of the assembled primary and secondary holders 1 and I1 have respective wireinlets or grooves 6.

The internal walls Ia of the sections 10 and lb of the primary holder 1, have grooves in which an insulating washer 2| is clamped when said sections are assembled. The rear transverse section 10 is provided with primary metal terminals 8 and 8a. The respective bare end of wire 5 is conductively fixed to metal terminal 8. This can be done by soldering or in any other way. The respective bare end of wire 12 is fixed'to terminal 8a. These wires are insulated from each other, inwardly of primary holder 1 and also externally thereto. Each contact sprin 9 and 9a, which is made of phosphor-bronze or other resilient and conductive material, has one end thereof fixed to a respective primary terminal 8 or 8a. Said wires 5 and I 2 are covered with insulation, externally of primary holder 1, save wherewire 5 is fixed to power terminal 4a, and where wire 12 is fixed to an end of the auto-transformer coil II, which has a primary section III. This autotransformer ll functions to step up the ordinary house voltage of 110-115 volts, to 600-1,000 volts or more.

Power terminal 4 of the source of primary current can be connected through switch 4b to wire 40, which is adjustably connected at In to the coil ll, intermediate the ends of coil II, in order to regulate the ratio between primary voltage and secondary voltage.

One end of the coil Ii is connected by wire it,

to the thimble or insert 4|, by means of the contact member l6, which is a headed screw.

The inner end of metal biasing spring I9 is located in a groove of metal thimble ll, which is a secondary terminal. The free end of thimble 4| is upset, to provide a rivet-like connection between spring I9 and thimble II. Fig. 2 shows anadditionalthimble l I which can be omitted.

A bushing I8, which is made of insulating material, has a piston-head which fits slidably against the inner walls Ila of the secondary holder sections Ill: and He. A metal cup 20 is fixed to the inner end of bushing I8, as by a drive fit or in anyother manner. This cup 28 is a bushing contact member. Said cup 28 has a plate-portion which crosses and also closes the central bore ofslidable bushing I8. The spring l8 biases said bushing I8 and its attached cup 20, to move towards the open insert end of the secondary holder II. The secondary holdersections Nb and "e have flanges 38, which limit the movement of the slidable bushing I8, so that bushing I8 is retained. The spring I9 has one or more turns IBa which firmly grip the cup 20.

The lamp I has the usual envelope which is made glass or other insulating material. Said lamp I has the usual hollow heads 2 and 2a, which are made of insulating material. The usual metal contact heads or contact-prongs 3 and in, project outwardly of said heads 2 and 2a. Said contact heads 3 and 8a are connected in the usualmanner'to the internal electrodes of the lamp. Said heads 3 and 3a are longitudinally alined.

In order to connect the lamp to the secondary current circuit, it is necessary first to insert the contact head in into the secondary holder l'l through its open insert end and to push the bushing l8 inwardly against the biasing force of spring I8. This is done by the pressure of head So against the respective wall or portion or metal cup 20 which crosses the bore of the bushing III. The bushing I8 must be pushed inwardly of the position shown in Fig. 1, in order that the lamp I can be horizontally located, with its head 3 located externally to the primary holder 1. The head 3 is then inserted into the primary holder 1, through its open insert end, so that said head 8 projects through the bore of the fixed insulating partition or washer 2|, which then abuts head 2,

to act as a stop. The free ends of the contact springs 9 and So then enter the groove G of head 8, thus making good contact.

The primary holder 1 and the secondary holder II are fixed to the wall of a fixture F, by the screws S which pass through bores of said fixture wall. Said screws S are screwed into the tapped bores 48 of the flanges. when so fixed, the open inlet or insert ends of the casings of the holders I and II are longitudinally alined, and said inlet ends face each other.

Each wire groove 8 is located at the junctions between the abutting walls of the holder sections.

When switch 4b is closed, the lead 4 of the alternating primary current, which may be ordinary house current of 110-115 volts and 60 cycles,

is connected through wire to to the inner end 4, through the primary section In and the contact head 3.

One end of the coil II is connected through wire I5, contact member I6, thimble ll, spring I8 and metal can 20, to the contact head So. The high secondary voltage discharges through the lamp I to head 3, and through spring 9a, terminal 8a, and wire I 2, to the respective end of the auto transformer coil II.

The high voltage secondary circuit therefore remains open, until the lamp I is in operative position, when it obstructs the exposed highvoltage terminal 20 of the secondary holder. If the exposed wall of metal cup 20 is touched, even when switch 422 is closed, there can be no shock.

By making each holder casing in two transverse sections and fixing the respective terminal or terminals to one such section, I greatly-reduce the cost of manufacture and assembly.

I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, but numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without departing fromits scope.

For example, the invention is not limited to the use of an auto-transformer. In Fig. 1, the entire coil II is the secondary coil, and the section It is the primary coil.

The invention applies to any type of lamp, including discharge lamps in which the space current results from electronic flow, as distinguished from an ionization discharge, and also including non-discharge lamps.

In efiect, the contact blades 9 and 9a constitute a switch device or switch means, whereby the primary circuit is automatically closed when the lamp is inserted into the holder I, and said primary circuit is automatically opened when the lamp is removed from holder I. This switch device is operated or controlled by head 3. In this aspect of my invention, it is not limited to the preferred structure illustrated herein, in which all the internal parts of the holder I are fixed, save for the bending of springs 9 and So when head 3 is inserted.

For convenience, the terminal II-I6 may also be designated as a first terminal, and the terminals 8 and 8a may be designated as second terminals. The members I9-28 then constitute a first contact for the first terminal 4l-I6, and the members 9 and 9a constitute second contacts. These contacts are located so that when the lamp is in operative position, the first contact Ill-20 abuts one contact-head oi the lamp,

6 and the second contacts 9 and 9a abut the other contact-head of the lamp. The lamp may be of a type which has more than two contact-heads. Hence, when I specify a lamp which has a pair of contact-heads, the invention is not limited in this respect, as it includes a lamp which h more than two contact-heads.

I claim:

1. In gaseous discharge lamp service assemblages, wherein the lamp presents its external contacts at the ends of the lamp with the contacts axially alined, wherein the lamp is supported within secondary and primary holder casings with the holders positioned respectively within the external contact zones of the lamp, and wherein the lamp is rendered active by controlled alternating current supply activity applied thereto through said holders with the supply including an auto-transformer assembly operatively connected with the holders to provide the pri-,

mary and secondary circuits utilized in rendering the assemblage active, an assemblage of such type characterized in that the secondary and primary holder casings are of insulating material and are secured in definitely spaced relation and each operatively related to vtheauto-transformer circuits to apply the secondary and primary circult values to a positioned lamp through the respective holders, each holder including an inlet opening for receiving a lamp external contact end zone with the inlet openings iacing each other, each holder also having an internal supporting member of insulating material for a lamp external contact with the members located relative to the inlet openings, the supporting member for the primary holder being fixedly positioned, the supporting member for the secondary holder being movable yieldably away from its inlet opening and carrying a contact member carried by and movable with the supporting member, said contact member being spaced from the holder inlet opening by its supporting member, said movable supporting member being supported by a biasing spring operati vely connected to the secondary circuit and to said contact member to form an element of the secondary circuit, said primary holder having a pair of individual permanently-spaced contact springs positioned for operative contact with an external contact of the positioned lamp and mounted for primary circuit activity in presence of such positioned lamp with one of said contact springs active within both primary and secondary circuits.

2. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the direction of yielding of the movable supporting member of the secondary holder is in correspondence with the longitudinal axis of the inlet opening of such holder, the supporting spring for such member being conductive and forming a portion of the current path of the secondary circuit, said path portion condition being maintained in all positions of such member movement, with the spring active to move the member toward the holder inlet opening;

3; An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the movable supporting member includes an axial opening to receive a zone of an external. contact of the lamp, the member having the wall of such opening of increased length to thereby provide an annular shoulder, the contact member borne by the supporting member overlying the inner open end of such opening and fitting said shoulder with the spring having an end zone cooperative with the contact member in such shoulder zone, the yielding movement of the supporting member being provided by the end face of the inserted external contact of the lamp cooperating with the overlying contact member during lamp activity, the opposite end of the spring being connected with a secondary circuit terminal carried by the holder.

4. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the primary holder carries a pair of terminals individual to the contact springs of the holder with the terminals adapted to be active in the primary circuit, one of said terminals being operatively connected to the auto-transformer winding to thereby place its contact spring as active in the completion of bothprimary and secondary circuits in presence of a positioned lamp the external contact of which is cooperative with both contact springs to complete the circuits.

5. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the primary holder carries a pair of terminals individual to the contact springs or the 6 holder with the terminals adapted to be active in the primary circuit, one of said terminals being operatively connected to the auto-transformer winding to thereby place its contact spring as active in the completion of both 'pri-" mary and secondary circuits in presence of a positioned lamp the external contact of whichis cooperative withboth contact springs to complete the circuits, each of said contact springs extending toward the secured lamp supporting member with the free end zone of each spring adapted to cooperate with an annular groove carried by the external contact of the lamp supported by the supporting member to thereby aid in completing both circuits.

6. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that the auto-transformer includes a winding having an end connected with a terminal 00- operative with the biasing spring of the secondary holder and having its other end connected witha terminal cooperative with one of the springs of the primary holder, the terminal oi.

the second spring of the primary holder'being connected with the power source, the auto-trans-' former also including an adjustable contact controllably connected with the power source and cooperative with the winding to present the latter as of primary and secondary zones to thereby complete the primary circuit through both terminals of the primary holder and the primary zone of the winding and to complete the secondary circuit through one of the spring terminals of the primary holder and the secondary zone of the winding by way of. the winding primary thereby present the division plane as extending in the lengthwise axis of the opening, said casing having means for removably securing the sections in such mating relation, said holder assembly having an internal annular supporting member for the lamp end zone with the member formed of insulating material and supported by the holder section-s, the active service position oi. the member being within the holder adjacent to but spaced from the inlet opening, one section of said casing having its mating face provided with at least one metallic member secured in embedded relation to the section with the member projecting relative to the mating line, said metallic member having an axial threaded opening for cooperation with a threaded member to constitute the two members as a lamp circuit terminal, said casing having means internal of the assembled sections for electrically connecting the terminal assembly with a lamp borne external contact of the lamp, said holder having at least one radial opening in the side wall of the assembled sections for the passage of external power connections to such terminal with the latter opening or openings located at such mating line, and said holder having means for fixedly 7 positioning it relative to the lamp during lamp service.

8. A holder assembly as in claim 7 and adapted to serve specifically as the primary holder of the lamp assemblage, said holder assembly being characterized in that the assembly has its internal supporting member fixedly positioned, the terminal carrying section being provided with a pair of individual spaced apart terminals with each such terminal carrying an individual spring contact extending in the direction of the internal supporting member and adapted to cooperate with a lamp borne external contact, the cooperating pair of spring contacts and the external contact being active in the completion of the primary circuit and with the circuit inactive in the absence of the external contact.

9. A holder assembly as in claim 7 adapted to serve specifically as the secondary holder of the lamp assemblage, said holder assembly being characterized in that the assembly has its internal supporting member yieldable in the direction of its axis and away from the inlet opening, said member being supported by a conductive biasing spring one end zone of which is secured to a terminal of the holder and its opposite end zone cooperative with a sheet metal contact positioned on the rear side of the supporting meinbar to thereby constitute said spring and sheet metal contact as active portions of the secondary circuit of a positioned lamp, whereby the supporting member may yield for the positioning and removal of the lamp without "affecting the integrity of the spring as a part of the secondary circuit path.

EUGENE R. KULKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

